MY BEAUTIFUL LIFE!!!

MY INTRO

ALOHA AND WELCOME TO MY PERSONAL BLOG!!! I THOUGHT WHY NOT SHARE MY PERSONAL GAINS & STRUGGLES THAT LIFE PUTS OUT TO EACH AND ONE OF US. I FEEL THAT THROUGH THE GIFT OF "GIVING & SHARING", THERE IS NO WAY BETTER THAN START THIS BLOG WHICH IS ALL ABOUT ME, MY OHANA (FAMILY), HOALOHA (FRIENDS), AND EVEN ENEMIES WHICH ARE THE VERY ONES I NEED TO LOVE AND ACCEPT.

I'LL SAY THIS STRAIGHT UP, I DON'T HOLD BACK MY FEELINGS FOR ANYONE AND IT'LL COME OUT OF MY MOUTH ON HOW I FEEL ABOUT YOU AND OTHERS. I DON'T GO BEHIND ANYONE'S BACK AND START RUMOURS WITH HOPES THAT IT WILL CIRCLE AROUND AND FINALLY HIT ITS TARGET. WHY TAKE THE LONG ROUTE WHEN I CAN GO STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. PERSONALLY, I THINK THAT IS THE "REAL" WAY OF LIVING LIFE, "BE REAL" AT ALL TIMES EVEN WHEN THE WORLD IS WATCHING.

ON THE OTHER NOTE, "I AM" THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PERSON IN THE WHOLE UNIVERSE FROM THE WAY "I SEE IT". I AM NOT SPEAKING FROM OTHER PEOPLE'S FEEDBACK OR "CONCEITEDNESS". "THIS IS" WHAT I CHOOSE TO SEE MYSELF EVERYDAY WHEN I WAKE UP FROM MY BED AND THANK "AKUA" (GOD) FOR GIVING ME ONE MORE DAY TO LIVE, REGARDLESS OF REGRETS FROM THE "YESTERDAYS" TO THE FEARS OF "TOMMOROWS".

IN MY EYES, LIVING A "BEAUTIFUL LIFE" CAN ONLY BE ATTAINED BY "CHOICE" AND IT REQUIRES "INTEGRITY", "HONESTY", "UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE", "FORGIVENESS" AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, "LOVE".

FIRST I CHOPPED ALL THE VEGGIES... I MIXED IT UP WITH COUSCOUS AND QUINOA... ADDED OLIVE OIL, MRS. DASH "GARLIC & HERBS, AND FRESH SQUEEZED LIMES!!!

AND THE DINNER IS MADE FOR TONIGHT!!!

AFTER THAT IT WAS TIME FOR MY QUICK POWER LUNCH...

3 EGGS OMELETTE WITH SPINACH, TOMATOES, AND SWISS CHEESE!!!

PLUS MY WHEY PROTEIN...

AND THAT'S HOW I END MY DAY BEFORE I GO TO WORK!!!

BRING IT ON!!!

AND I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS ARTICLE...

9 Body-Shaming Behaviors We All
Need To Stop

BY SOPHIA RINALDIS

The
human body is one of the most precious tools we have. It's an intricate,
complex and reliable organism; it relentlessly serves us day and night, yet
expects very little in return.

For
many reasons, we're often more willing to listen to our minds than to trust in
our bodies. We follow our mind with little hesitation, spending time listening
to its assumptions, its lies, and its criticisms. When it comes to thinking
about our bodies, however, we easily let our minds dictate our perceptions. Our
default settings make it easy for us to forget that our thoughts themselves are
molded by our social structures and landscapes. The mind gobbles up unrealistic
ideals and projects them onto the body.

By
contrast, we see our bodies as candid: our body is just what we perceive it to
be (though this perception is so often shaped by social attitudes and
structures). Through the mind, we see the body as something that exists only to
serve our needs and refuse to see it outside of the projections our mind places
onto it. The problem is, when we think we are seeing our body, we are often
seeing projections instead.

Yoga,
like many other activities, trains us to move out of the mind and into the
body. By doing this, we rid ourselves of some of the feelings associated with
the body, one of which is shame. The association between shame and the body is
so deeply rooted that we have developed habits of judging the body. We do this
when looking at others, but also when looking at our own bodies. Body-shaming
takes on different forms, all of which have extensive effects.

Knowing
what we know about the difficulties we face in becoming comfortable in our
bodies, why do we continue to be so harsh? Why are we adding to the pressure?

Sometimes,
it is simply because shaming has grown to be so automatic that it becomes
difficult to identify the instances in which we are engaging in body-shaming.
Here are nine ways in which we inadvertently body-shame. Once these become
easily identifiable, we can work toward stopping, questioning, and correcting
those thoughts.

1.
Focusing on dieting rather than nutrition.

Our
body runs like an engine, which means it needs a steady flow of fuel to reach
its full potential. One of the main sources of fuel is food. Because of this
reality, nutritious diets should include variety and offer an array of
vitamins, fiber, fat and even carbohydrates. When we give into dieting fads
like calorie counting or cutting out carbs, we are acting on our desire to look
a certain way, rather than focusing on supporting our body functioning in the
way we need it too.

2.
Refusing to indulge.

Cooking
a good meal, sharing a glass (or bottle!) of wine, having a decadent dessert —
these are all ways in which we can give our body a treat. Despite knowing the
pleasure these choices can bring, we have internalized the idea that
‘indulging’ too much or too often is a bad thing. How many times have you
heard, "You’re so wise to refuse dessert." Or, "A moment on your
lips, forever on your hips."

It's
important to remember that there are healthful ways to have a treat (for
instance, I like a few chocolate covered almonds after dinner). One aspect of
being healthy is actually to allow ourselves these pleasures.

3. Idolizing
body types as they are presented by the media.

According
to The Renfrew Center Foundation for Eating Disorders, it's estimated that only
5% of North Americans have body types similar to those portrayed in the media.

While
it may seem cliché, stopping body-shaming starts with the realization that
bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and that few particular body types are
overwhelmingly overrepresented in the media.

4.
Shaming people who are ‘’too skinny.’’

Nature
has created so many body types, it's unrealistic to expect us all to look the
same. It's an often overlooked reality that thinner people also get shamed for
being "too skinny," "body obsessed," "looking
anorexic." Just like everyone else, these people are entitled to be free
from the judgment of others when it comes to how their body functions and what
it needs.

5.
Judging the variety of body types in the exercise room.

I once
had a yoga teacher who had a fuller body, and every class she would reference
this to make us aware of the pressure and judgment she was subjected to within
the yoga community. Thoughts like, “If you’re bigger, you can’t do yoga."
Or, “You can’t be a good yoga teacher with a fuller body." These thoughts
stop us from seeing that fitness comes in many shapes and size and exercise has
similar benefits, no matter the body type.

Pressure
to conform to our society’s beauty standards infiltrates us, often in subtle
ways. It becomes difficult to untangle what we do to live up to these standards
from that which is authentic and will genuinely make us feel beautiful.
Learning to accept and love your body can be a lifelong journey, not without its
own hiccups.

When
we judge someone for undergoing plastic surgery, or for wearing high heels, we
are engaging in a form of body-shaming. Even when the judgment is meant to be a
rejection of societal ideals, it can have the opposite effect, leading to a
step back rather than a step forward.

7.
Judging expressions of sexuality.

Sexuality
can be expressed in the way we choose to reveal our bodies, through clothing or
movement. Judging people on the way they do this, or denying certain people the
right to express their sexuality based on their body type is a form of
body-shaming. Expressing sexuality is a natural human need to which we are all
entitled. We should be able to express our sexual identities in the ways that
are most genuine to us without being judged for it.

8. Not
knowing our own bodies.

If we
want to know how deeply ingrained body-shaming has become, we can simply turn
to the ways in which we interact with our own bodies. We have learned to fear
the mirror or, sometimes, to feel discomfort when naked. We refrain from
spending time exploring our body and consequently limit our understanding of
ourselves.

9.
Defining beauty as a look rather than a state of mind

When
we realize that we're more than just our bodies, we can begin to let go of some
of the pressures we place on them. The body is a strong vehicle, but it is not
the sole medium through which we experience life. Beauty also comes from
attributes such as humor, compassion, selflessness, intelligence.

For
over two years I spent one out of every four weeks in silence. At the time I
was living at a Zen Monastery and every month we would have a week-long silent
retreat.

During
this retreat we sat meditation in silence, ate in silence, worked in silence, and
only communicated through hand gestures and written notes.

At
first living like this was hard, but over time I learned to grow to appreciate
silence. By the time I left I learned that silence was my friend and teacher.

What
did silence teach me?

1. Satisfaction

I used
to think I needed to watch TV every night. But at monastery I went without and
discovered I didn’t need it.

Silence
taught me to be happy with less. Pick something that’s weighing you down and
let it go. Your life will thank you.

2. Expression

When
you can only talk by writing a note, you only say what’s important. Before the
monastery I talked a lot but said little.

Silence
taught me that a few simple words well spoken have more power than hours of
chatter. Think of one simple thing you can say that would help someone feel
better and say it.

3.
Appreciation

Being
able to speak makes life easy, but when I couldn’t talk I learned how much I
relied on others.

Silence
taught me to appreciate the value of relating to others. The next time you see
your friends or family, try to really listen. Deep listening expresses deep
appreciation.

4.
Attention

Several
times at my first retreat I thought my phone was vibrating. But then I would
remember I didn’t have my phone. It showed me how my phone divided my
attention.

Silence
taught me how important it is to let go of distractions. The next time you are
with someone you care about, try turning off your phone and putting it away. It
will make paying attention easier.

5.
Thoughts

I once
sat a retreat next door to a construction project. What amazed me was how
easily my thoughts drowned out the noise. I realized if my thoughts were this
loud, I’d better make them as wise as possible.

Silence
taught me the importance of shaping my thinking. Take time each day to notice
your thoughts and let go of thoughts that don’t serve you.

6.
Nature

Because
I sat retreat in every season, I know that the sound of wind in fall is different
than it is in winter.

Silence
taught me to notice nature. Take a short walk outside in silence and you’ll
discover the wisdom and peace that nature has to offer.

7.
Body

During
retreat I noticed that whenever I got lost in thought, I lost track of my body.
And when I focused on my body, my thoughts would calm down.

Silence
taught me to be in my body. Close your eyes and ask, “What sensations do I feel
in my hand?” Learning to feel your body can calm your troubled mind.

8.
Overstimulation

Whenever
I went into town after retreat, the world seemed so loud and fast. I came to
realize how much our senses have to process most of the time.

Silence
taught me the importance of reducing the stimulation. Enjoy some quiet time
everyday. The less you see and hear, the more settled your mind can become.

9.
Sound

People
would come to the monastery and remark how quiet it was. But living at the
monastery I knew all the noises, from frogs, to owls, to the sound of sandals
on the sidewalk.

Silence
taught me that the world is a rich texture of sounds. Sit in front of your
house and close your eyes. You’ll be amazed at what you hear if you listen long
enough.

10.
Humanity

During
retreat I was surrounded by imperfect people who were doing their best. Some were
happy, some were sad, but all were wonderfully human.

Silence
taught me that people display great beauty. Find a good spot to people watch
with an open heart. What you see may inspire you.

11.
Space

For a
long time anytime something difficult came up, I would just distract myself.
But retreat taught me that if I avoided something it would never go away.

I used
to think love was this big thing. But in retreat I found that I felt love for
so many things.

Silence
taught me that love can be simple. Think of someone you haven’t said I love you
to recently and tell them.

13.
Courage

I used
to think courage was about facing danger, but during retreat I realized that
real courage is about facing yourself.

Silence
taught me the courage it takes to be still. When we stop moving everything
we’re running from catches up. The next time you are afraid, stop and wait for
it to pass. There is immense courage inside your heart.

14.
Perseverance

Every
retreat reminded me that speaking is easy, but staying quiet is hard.

Silence
isn’t flashy, but it has an immense power to endure. The next time someone
doubts you, instead of disagreeing, silently vow not to give up. Action is
speaks volumes.

15.
Faith

I
often ask for reassurance or feedback. But living is silence meant I had to
trust my instincts.

Silence
taught me to have faith in myself. The next time you begin to feel anxious, sit
in silence and see if you can find the space of deep faith that lives in your
heart.

16.
Honesty

I used
to lie so I wouldn’t have to explain myself. But when I couldn’t talk I began
to notice this impulse and how much it degraded my integrity.

Silence
taught me the importance of telling the truth. Notice times where you tell
little lies and try telling the truth instead. It isn’t always easy but it’s
the first step to trusting ourselves and others.

17.
Gratitude

During
retreat I didn’t have a lot of comforts. It helped me see how much I took for
granted and how much I had to be grateful for.

At the
end of every day sit in silence and ask yourself what am I grateful for. You’ll
be amazed at the blessings you discover.

18.
Simplicity

I used
to love drama and conflict. But at retreat I found I was happier when I kept it
simple.

Silence
taught me that simplicity and joy are close companions. Pick one space in your
home you could simplify. Keep it simple for one month and enjoy the ease it
offers your life.

19.
Connection

I used
to think I had to talk in order to feel connected. I realized during retreat
that I can feel connected just by being near people I care about.

Silence
taught me that words can get in the way. Do something in silence with someone
you love. It will be awkward at first but eventually you will see what it means
just to be in someone presence.

20.
Truth

I
studied philosophy in college and I thought I could read about truth. But
retreat taught me that truth is found in silence.

Silence
has taught me a deeper truth than words ever could. Sit in silence once a week
and feel the truth in your heart. It’s there whether you can express it in
words or not.

“The
source of love is deep in us and we can help others realize a lot of happiness.
One word, one action, one thought can reduce another person’s suffering and
bring that person joy.”

“The
present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will
see it.

“I
promise myself that I will enjoy every minute of the day that is given me to
live.”

2. If
you love someone, the greatest gift you can give them is your presence.

“If
you love someone but rarely make yourself available to him or her, that is not
true love.”

“The
most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. When mindfulness
embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.”

3.
Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos.

“Keeping
your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos — the
trees, the clouds, everything.”

4. To
be beautiful means to be yourself.

“To be
beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You
need to accept yourself.”

5.
Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.

“When
we walk like (we are rushing), we print anxiety and sorrow on the earth. We
have to walk in a way that we only print peace and serenity on the earth… Be
aware of the contact between your feet and the earth. Walk as if you are
kissing the earth with your feet.”

“Waking
up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to
live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.”

“Smile,
breathe and go slowly.”

“Drink
your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth
revolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.”

6.
Take time to relax and renew yourself.

“From
time to time, to remind ourselves to relax and be peaceful, we may wish to set
aside some time for a retreat, a day of mindfulness, when we can walk slowly,
smile, drink tea with a friend, enjoy being together as if we are the happiest
people on Earth.”

7. Get
in touch with yourself.

“In
modern society most of us don’t want to be in touch with ourselves; we want to
be in touch with other things like religion, sports, politics, a book – we want
to forget ourselves. Anytime we have leisure, we want to invite something else
to enter us, opening ourselves to the television and telling the television to
come and colonize us.”

8. As
long as you’re alive, everything is possible.

“Thanks
to impermanence, everything is possible.”

“Because
you are alive, everything is possible.”

9.
When you have peace within, real peace with others is possible.

“We
often think of peace as the absence of war, that if powerful countries would
reduce their weapon arsenals, we could have peace. But if we look deeply into
the weapons, we see our own minds- our own prejudices, fears and ignorance.
Even if we transport all the bombs to the moon, the roots of war and the roots
of bombs are still there, in our hearts and minds, and sooner or later we will
make new bombs. To work for peace is to uproot war from ourselves and from the
hearts of men and women. To prepare for war, to give millions of men and women
the opportunity to practice killing day and night in their hearts, is to plant
millions of seeds of violence, anger, frustration, and fear that will be passed
on for generations to come. ”

“Root
out the violence in your life, and learn to live compassionately and mindfully.
Seek peace. When you have peace within, real peace with others is possible.”

10.
You are more than your sorrows.

“The
seed of suffering in you may be strong, but don’t wait until you have no more
suffering before allowing yourself to be happy.”

“Suffering
is not enough. Life is both dreadful and wonderful…How can I smile when I am
filled with so much sorrow? It is natural–you need to smile to your sorrow
because you are more than your sorrow.”

11.
When another person makes you suffer, it only is because he suffers deeply
within himself.

“When
another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within
himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment; he
needs help. That’s the message he is sending.”

12.
Blaming has no positive effect at all.

“When
you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don’t blame the lettuce. You
look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water,
or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have problems with our
friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care
of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect
at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument. That is my
experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding. If you understand,
and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change.”

13.
Never lose hope.

“Hope
is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If
we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.”

14.
Let go of everything that no longer serves you and you will be happy.

“Letting
go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness. If, in
our heart, we still cling to anything – anger, anxiety, or possessions – we
cannot be free.”

“People
have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown,
they prefer suffering that is familiar.”

“The
secret of Buddhism is to remove all ideas, all concepts, in order for the truth
to have a chance to penetrate, to reveal itself.”

15.
Never underestimate the power of a kind word, a touch, or a smile.

“The
source of love is deep in us and we can help others realize a lot of happiness.
One word, one action, one thought can reduce another person’s suffering and
bring that person joy.”

“The
present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will
see it.

“I
promise myself that I will enjoy every minute of the day that is given me to
live.”

16.
True love is free from bondage.

“If
our love is only a will to possess, it is not love.”

“You
must love in such a way that the person you love feels free.”

“In
true love, you attain freedom.”

17.
Let go of fear.

“Fear
keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge
our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are
still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the
beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones.”

“In
order to rally people, governments need enemies. They want us to be afraid, to
hate, so we will rally behind them. And if they do not have a real enemy, they
will invent one in order to mobilize us.”

“Some
people live as though they are already dead. There are people moving around us
who are consumed by their past, terrified of their future, and stuck in their
anger and jealousy. They are not alive; they are just walking corpses.”

18.
Breathe yourself back to life.

“Breathing
in, there is only the present moment. Breathing out, it is a wonderful moment.”

“Feelings
come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”

19.
Free yourself of concepts and keeps your mind open to what is.

“For
things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views
about them.”

“Attachment
to views is the greatest impediment to the spiritual path.”

20.
Shift your focus from the negative on to the positive.

“I
have noticed that people are dealing too much with the negative, with what is
wrong. … Why not try the other way, to look into the patient and see positive
things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?”

21.
Welcome all of your feelings, no matter if they are negative or positive.

“Feelings,
whether of compassion or irritation, should be welcomed, recognized, and
treated on an absolutely equal basis; because both are ourselves. The tangerine
I am eating is me. The mustard greens I am planting are me. I plant with all my
heart and mind. I clean this teapot with the kind of attention I would have
were I giving the baby Buddha or Jesus a bath. Nothing should be treated more
carefully than anything else. In mindfulness, compassion, irritation, mustard
green plant, and teapot are all sacred.”

22.
The present moment is all you ever have.

“To
dwell in the here and now does not mean you never think about the past or
responsibly plan for the future. The idea is simply not to allow yourself to
get lost in regrets about the past or worries about the future. If you are
firmly grounded in the present moment, the past can be an object of inquiry,
the object of your mindfulness and concentration. You can attain many insights
by looking into the past. But you are still grounded in the present moment.”

“The
past is gone, the future is not yet here, and if we do not go back to ourselves
in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life.”

“Breathing
in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present
moment I know this is the only moment.”

“Life
is available only in the present moment.”

“The
present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will
see it.”

23.
Love’s only interest is to love.

“Through
my love for you, I want to express my love for the whole cosmos, the whole of
humanity, and all beings. By living with you, I want to learn to love everyone
and all species. If I succeed in loving you, I will be able to love everyone
and all species on Earth… This is the real message of love.”

24.
True happiness is based on peace.

“Many
people think excitement is happiness…. But when you are excited you are not
peaceful. True happiness is based on peace.”

“It is
my conviction that there is no way to peace – peace is the way.”

25. At
the core level we are all ONE.

“We
are here to awaken from our illusion of separateness.”

26. It
may be that humankind has created God in the image of humankind.

“It is
said that God has created man in his own image. But it may be that humankind
has created God in the image of humankind.”

27.
Enlightenment is always available to you.

“Enlightenment
is always there. Small enlightenment will bring great enlightenment. If you
breathe in and are aware that you are alive—that you can touch the miracle of
being alive—then that is a kind of enlightenment.”

28. To
have peace in the world we have to have to first peace between religions.

“Until
there is peace between religions, there can be no peace in the world.”

29. If
you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all
generations of your ancestors.

“If
you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all
generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is
present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.”

30.
Life bursts with miracles.

“Around
us, life bursts with miracles–a glass of water, a ray of sunshine, a leaf, a
caterpillar, a flower, laughter, raindrops. If you live in awareness, it is
easy to see miracles everywhere. Each human being is a multiplicity of
miracles. Eyes that see thousands of colors, shapes, and forms; ears that hear
a bee flying or a thunderclap; a brain that ponders a speck of dust as easily
as the entire cosmos; a heart that beats in rhythm with the heartbeat of all
beings. When we are tired and feel discouraged by life’s daily struggles, we
may not notice these miracles, but they are always there.”

“People
usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the
real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on
earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a
blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child — our
own two eyes. All is a miracle.”

“The
kingdom of God is available to you in the here and the now. But the question is
whether you are available to the kingdom. Our practice is to make ourselves
ready for the kingdom so that it can manifest in the here and the now. You
don’t need to die in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. In fact, you have to
be truly alive in order to do so.”

I RECEIVED THIS FROM AN EMAIL FROM ONE OF MY BLOG FANS FROM VIETNAM!!!